Sermon 2007 09 23

Of all the parable that Jesus ever told, this one is the most confusing and difficult to interpret. St. Augustine said of this parable, "I can't believe that this story came from the lips of our Lord."

What an incredible little story. This manager, upon hearing he is fired goes to his Master's debtors with a nifty little kick-back scheme. "I'll forgive part of their debts", he thinks, "So that they'll be good to me after I'm fired."

Then, even more astounding, the Master, when he learns of the scam, commends the manager for his shrewdness! The Master seems impressed that he has found a way to transfer wealth into an intangible form. (They say "you can't take it with you," but this man has found a way!)

It is hard to find anyone in this story to sympathize with. Even the master admires the scoundrel. What does Jesus mean, when he says, "... make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes."

To me the only way this story can make any sense at all is if we realize two important things. 1) As individuals and as a species, we are already like the squandering manager and 2) This parable is not essentially about the unjust manager, but is really about a magnanimous master.

Each one of us has been given the stewardship of all that we have and all that we are: our gifts and talents, our time, our material wealth. All of it really belongs to God. Inasmuch as we use these gifts and talents simply for our own selfish purposes, we, too have squandered our Master's property.

But, remember, the essence of this story is about an amazingly giving and forgiving master. Notice that when the manager was only wasting his resources on himself, the master responded in anger. When the manager started to spend the Masters resources on others, the Master commends him. This makes sense because the Master's resources are unlimited - especially when it comes to forming relationships. For, despite the manager's motives, he is building a community of relationships.

God's economy is not like ours. We like to hoard for ourselves, but God wants us to spend his resources extravagantly - but on other people, building relationships and community as we go.

Today is the Primates World Relief and Development (PWRDF) Sunday here at St. Andrew's Church. It is the Sunday when we remember that we, as the Anglican Church of Canada have a way to share our wealth not only with those in our immediate vicinity, but also with those in need around the world.

I want to share with you a story told by Christine Kilipamwambu who is PWRDF partner working in Tanzania, in the Diocese of Ruaha. Part of her work is in the rural communities in that country. One of those communities is Uhambingeto. With the help of the PWRDF, they were able to lift this community our of a daily cycle of poverty.

Back in 1993, Christine visited this community. As she walked door to door asking for water, not even one family in the community could offer her a glass of water because they simply did not have it.

The women of Uhanbingeto had to walk 23 km to get water. "Imagine carrying a baby on your back and the 10 or 15 litre bucket or jerry can on your head and walking 23 km every day just for a sip of clean water!" explains Christine.

But today this community has its own clean water supply, a clinic, day care facilities and income-generating projects. "This is the same village that had no water in 1993, but today when you go and ask for water, you get a glass full," Says Christine.

The story of Uhambingeto would not have been told if it were not for the the combines efforts and partnership of Canadian Anglicans and the people of Uhambingeto. "Combined efforts of others can become more than enough," says Christine.

Christine points out that the Uhanbingeto water project was a community-initiated project. The villagers came to her and asked for financial resources to kick-start the project. "We do not have the financial resources, but we can offer ourselves, our hands to dig the trenches, to lay the pipes, and mould the bricks," said the villagers to Christine.

After 10 years, the Uhambingeto project is now self-sustainable. The PWRDF and the Diocese of Ruaha were able to end their support two years ago. They have formed a fund and have trained their own technicians. The Diocese of Ruaha has now stared a new project in the village of Idegenda.

The Theme for the PWRDF is "Enough for All." We as the Church believe that there are enough resources to sustain life on this planet, if we can use God's resources as he would have us use them. Our task as a Church is to help restore the sacred balance which was God's purpose when he created this earth. This is a huge challenge, but it is essential in order to provide enough for all and to ensure the survival of generations to come.

The Earth is our home, a habitat which we share with all over living species. The land is a gift from the creator and the source of our sustenance. The Canadian Churches and church-based development agencies, such as the PWRDF work toward the building of sustainable communities. This requires a just and moral economy where the people are empower to participate in the decisions which affect their lives. This requires that institutions are held accountable for the social and environmental consequences of their operations. This requires a world where living things are allowed to flourish and the Earth is nurtured rather than exploited or degraded.

The PWRDF has a triple focus in asking us to Pray, to Act and to Give.

Archibishop Desmond Tutu tells us it is wonderful and mind-boggling that God, though omnipotent, depends on all of us. God waits for each of our contributions, as partners and collaborators with God.

Supporting the PWRDF is one of the most direct ways that we can do this.

Even though today's Gospel parable is certainly one of Jesus' weirdest, it is, at heart, a story about sharing and building relationships. I am glad that Pearl Sweeting, our new PWRDF representative will be saying a few words about how you can participate in restoring balance in this world.

May God grant us hearts to love him and to reach out to others in love as we help to build his kingdom on this earth. Amen.